Battery Conditioning
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 783
Likes: 2
From: Wake Forest, NC
St. Jude Donor '05
Battery Conditioning
For those of you that don't drive your Vette in the winter months, what do you do for your battery?
I don't usually drive mine much during the winter.
I put a brand new battery in it last April, drove it a bit, and then, I was doing a bunch of repairs and stuff and had it torn down in the garage for a month or so. Got it all fixed back up and drove it a couple times before the end of the "season"
Anyway, I got in it a couple weeks ago and when I went to crank it, the battery was practically dead. It turned over really slow. I let go of the key, let it sit for a few seconds and just bumped the key one last time... I got lucky and the motor kicked and started right up. I drove it around for about an hour to charge the battery some, then disconnected it.
I'm thinking if I just leave it disconnected this winter that will be best for it. I was planning on hooking it to a charger periodically as well... I'm still wondering why it went dead so fast... I mean, I didn't drive the car much I know, but it is new, and it was disconnected for the month I was working on the car...
At any rate... what are you guys doing?
I don't usually drive mine much during the winter.
I put a brand new battery in it last April, drove it a bit, and then, I was doing a bunch of repairs and stuff and had it torn down in the garage for a month or so. Got it all fixed back up and drove it a couple times before the end of the "season"
Anyway, I got in it a couple weeks ago and when I went to crank it, the battery was practically dead. It turned over really slow. I let go of the key, let it sit for a few seconds and just bumped the key one last time... I got lucky and the motor kicked and started right up. I drove it around for about an hour to charge the battery some, then disconnected it.
I'm thinking if I just leave it disconnected this winter that will be best for it. I was planning on hooking it to a charger periodically as well... I'm still wondering why it went dead so fast... I mean, I didn't drive the car much I know, but it is new, and it was disconnected for the month I was working on the car...
At any rate... what are you guys doing?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 869
Likes: 0
From: Nashua NH
The battery can loose some charge just sitting. Also there may be a small drain from things in the car that stay on all the tme.
Both of mine sit from late Nov to March depending on the weather. I usually just start them up and let them warm completly up about once a month.
Some people disconnect the battery and/or put the battery on a charger/tender but I've never bothered.
Both of mine sit from late Nov to March depending on the weather. I usually just start them up and let them warm completly up about once a month.
Some people disconnect the battery and/or put the battery on a charger/tender but I've never bothered.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Lead acid batteries self discharge about 1% each day even disconnected and lead sulfphate collects on the plates during discharge. Lead sulphate is a good insulator and a fully sulphated battery will not accept current when attempting recharging and is a door stop. Lead acid batteries do not like sitting for long (4+ wks) periods doing nothing!
Periodic charging should be done, a battery tender is best and if you already own a battery charger buy an interval timer (turns on your home lights each night when you aren't home) and have it make your battery charger charge the battery each day for its minimum interval (usually 15 min, but an hour is ok). Your battery will be fully charged and have a normal life. You do not have to disconnect your battery to do this!
Running the engine thinking the alternator will charge the battery is not good, first because you won't likely run the engine long enough and second a discharged battery draws a lot of current and you will shorten the life of the alternator.
Periodic charging should be done, a battery tender is best and if you already own a battery charger buy an interval timer (turns on your home lights each night when you aren't home) and have it make your battery charger charge the battery each day for its minimum interval (usually 15 min, but an hour is ok). Your battery will be fully charged and have a normal life. You do not have to disconnect your battery to do this!
Running the engine thinking the alternator will charge the battery is not good, first because you won't likely run the engine long enough and second a discharged battery draws a lot of current and you will shorten the life of the alternator.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 716
Likes: 0
From: Evansville IN
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
I use a battery tender on mine. Charges when it needs then shuts off. I also use one on my scooter. Keeps the batteries charged and ready to go come Spring. Batteries last longer too. 
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
From: Greenwood Indiana
Can you guys tell me if you use your battery tender while the battery is hooked up to the car or do you have to disconnect the battery? This is a great thread for today: I just installed a new battery in my C4 last night and since we had 17" of snow last thurs, I guess it will only be started once a month until spring.....Keep up the great advice, you guys are life savers!!
TBone
TBone
Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 716
Likes: 0
From: Evansville IN
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Mine just clamps on the posts. Kind of a plug and play deal. Real easy to hook up. Just remember to disconnect it before you drive your car. Bought 2 of them from a motorcycle shop for around $40. Battery savers.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,786
Likes: 0
From: Minneapolis MN
Originally Posted by Kwikerthanu
I use a battery tender on mine. Charges when it needs then shuts off. I also use one on my scooter. Keeps the batteries charged and ready to go come Spring. Batteries last longer too.
what he sed
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 4,813
Likes: 0
From: Port Orange Florida
I just put as new battery in my 92 and I will be doing the "bike mod"..... 
Battery tender makes a small semi-permanent hook-up for it.It has a small plug-in adapter that attaches like a ring terminal to your battery and then unplugs to the rest of the cord for the charger.This way you can leave the plug hanging outta site and just plug it in without opening the hood.
We used to do this on our Bikes when they would sit for periods of time.The battery access on most of them was awful.So a plug hanging within reach is a godsend.
Battery tender makes a small semi-permanent hook-up for it.It has a small plug-in adapter that attaches like a ring terminal to your battery and then unplugs to the rest of the cord for the charger.This way you can leave the plug hanging outta site and just plug it in without opening the hood.
We used to do this on our Bikes when they would sit for periods of time.The battery access on most of them was awful.So a plug hanging within reach is a godsend.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 783
Likes: 2
From: Wake Forest, NC
St. Jude Donor '05
Thanks everyone. I appreciate the replies. You've all got me sold... I'm going to buy a Battery Tender. I notice they have a few different models. Is there one thats better than another for this application?
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Originally Posted by rws.1
My battery tender clamps onto the battery terminals while the battery is still in the Vette and remains connected.
It works great. Got mine from Harbor Freight for $8 on sale!
It works great. Got mine from Harbor Freight for $8 on sale!
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=42292